Valley Free Radio of Northampton creates recording studio local musicians can use for free

NORTHAMPTON -- Recording in a professional studio can cost artists anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars -- and Valley Free Radio 103.3 knows that people getting their start in music often don't have that kind of extra cash.

That's why the Florence-based, volunteer-run radio station has created a production room and recording studio that local musicians can use for free.

VFR said it will accept donations from anyone who wants to record, but ideally wants the space to be open and available to the community "regardless of their financial situation," according to its website.

The station serves the central Pioneer Valley and is otherwise known as WXOJ-LP, announced its intention to upgrade the station's smaller production studio in September.

"At the same time, as a supporter of local and independent music, we decided to open up our upgraded space for artists and musicians to record their work at no cost," VFR wrote on its site. "There are a lot of talented musicians out there, sitting at home recording their music on their laptops and phones. We want to help them get their music heard by providing a free space for them to record and experiment."

Musicians using the studio have to be accompanied by a station programmer, and the space must be reserved in advance of any recording time. The station's first official recording artist will train this weekend.

Brianne Zulkiewicz, outreach coordinator for VFR, said she has gotten countless emails from artists hoping to lay down tracks at the studio. But she said scheduling recording slots is tricky, because the space is next to the station's live recording studio. Sessions can only take place when hosts are off the air.

"And we're still trying to get all station members trained on the equipment," she added.

VFR programmer Josh Braska said musicians have "come out of the woodwork" to work with VFR, including kids in elementary school and junior high.

The studio has been rewired by a professional recording engineer with new sound panels, and VFR bought new microphones, monitors and audio recording software for the space.

The Northampton Arts Council contributed $600 in fall, and Northampton Community Television gave VFR a matching grant for $1,000 after the estate of station programmer Michael Dow's late brother, David Dow, was donated to the cause. The nonprofit station also raised more than $1,200 studio through an online crowdfunding site.

The station, David S. Dow Community Recording Studio, was named after David Dow.